This November, Menlo’s varsity girls flag football team made program history, beating Los Gatos High School 27–13 to capture the sport’s first-ever CCS Open Division Championship.

“Going into the season, we obviously wanted to try and win the CCS championship as it was the first one,” sophomore wide receiver and defensive back Anika Shah said. According to MaxPreps, the 16–2 Knights ranked No. 15 nationally at the end of their season.

Menlo’s season, however, wasn’t all smooth sailing. The Knights suffered their first loss in over two years to Carlmont High School, snapping their 32-game winning streak. “When we were faced with adversity like the loss to Carlmont, we just had to stay focused and not let that distract us from getting better,” Shah said.

The Knights split their two-game regular-season series with Sacred Heart Prep. In their first matchup, Menlo stormed back from a 12–0 halftime deficit to win 13–12.

Shah said the camaraderie of the team was a key factor in helping them make plays on the field. “The culture of the team was super special,” Shah said. “The seniors and captains had phenomenal leadership, and we’re all anticipating next season.”